Single lesson
Herod's Pride and Death
Acts 12:20–25
This lesson helps children follow Acts 12:20–25 in order. They will notice what Herod received from the crowd, what he failed to do before God, and how the passage ends with God’s word continuing to grow.
Before you teach
Herod is angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and they ask for peace because their country depends on his country for food. On an appointed day Herod gives a speech, the crowd praises him as more than a man, God judges him, and the passage closes by showing God’s word continuing and Barnabas, Saul, and John Mark travelling on.
Students will be able to retell the sequence in Acts 12:20–25 and explain from the text that Herod received godlike praise and did not give God the glory, while the word of God grew and multiplied.
Welcome: Listen for glory
5 minTell the class they will hear a short account with a ruler, a crowd, and God’s response. Ask them to listen for two things: what the people say about Herod, and what the passage says Herod failed to do. Explain that the lesson will follow the verses in order and end by noticing what kept going after Herod died.
Acts 12:22, Acts 12:23, Acts 12:24
Read and explain: Why did they come to Herod?
7 minRead Acts 12:20–21. Explain that the people of Tyre and Sidon asked for peace because they depended on the king’s country for food. Then Herod sat on the throne in royal clothing and gave a speech. These details show the situation, the ruler, and the setting before the crowd responded.
Acts 12:20, Acts 12:21
Discuss the turning point: Praise that belonged to God
6 minRead Acts 12:22–23 again. The crowd shouted, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” The next verse explains the problem clearly: Herod did not give God the glory. Tell children plainly that God judged Herod and he died, without dwelling on the bodily detail beyond what the verse states.
Acts 12:22, Acts 12:23
Make and respond: Put the passage in order
8 minChildren make simple sequence cards for the events in Acts 12:20–25: Herod angry, peace requested, Herod’s speech, the crowd’s shout, God’s judgement, God’s word growing, and Barnabas and Saul returning with John called Mark. As they place the cards in order, ask them to say one sentence from the matching verse.
Acts 12:20, Acts 12:21, Acts 12:22, Acts 12:23, Acts 12:24, Acts 12:25
Closing: What ended, and what continued?
4 minReview the last two verses together. Herod’s life ended, but the word of God grew and multiplied. Then Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem after fulfilling their service, taking John called Mark with them. Finish by helping children state the contrast: human honour passes, but God’s word continues.
Acts 12:24, Acts 12:25
Questions to explore
Why did the people of Tyre and Sidon ask Herod for peace?
Look for the reason in the verse itself: their country depended on the king’s country for food.
Acts 12:20
What did the crowd shout after Herod’s speech, and what did Herod fail to do?
Use the exact words from Acts 12:22, then connect them with the explanation in Acts 12:23 that he did not give God the glory.
Acts 12:22, Acts 12:23
After Herod died, what two things does the passage say next?
Notice first what happened to the word of God, then what Barnabas, Saul, and John called Mark did.
Acts 12:24, Acts 12:25
Make, think or respond
Acts 12 Order Cards
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or textas
- scissors
- Bible
Try it together
- List the main events from Acts 12:20–25 with the class.
- Have children draw one event per card and add a short label.
- Mix the cards and work together to place them in verse order.
- Ask volunteers to retell the passage by pointing to the cards in sequence.
This activity helps children follow the order of Acts 12:20–25 and see the contrast between Herod’s end and the continuing growth of God’s word.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, prepare the event list together and let them draw simple pictures while an adult writes the labels.
- For older or more confident children, ask them to include a brief phrase from each verse and explain the contrast between Acts 12:23, Acts 12:24, and Acts 12:25.
An optional closing prayer
You may pray: “God, help us give you the glory that belongs to you. Help us speak truthfully about you and remember that your word continues. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Acts 12
20 Now Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. They came with one accord to him and, having made Blastus, the king’s personal aide, their friend, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king’s country for food.
21 On an appointed day, Herod dressed himself in royal clothing, sat on the throne, and gave a speech to them.
22 The people shouted, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!”
23 Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he didn’t give God the glory. Then he was eaten by worms and died.
24 But the word of God grew and multiplied.
25 Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their service, also taking with them John who was called Mark.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.